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discovered. He wondered what had gone wrong with Murray's plans, and,

suddenly imbued with the natural suspicion of the criminal, it occurred to him

that the whole thing might be a frame-up to get him; and yet why Murray should

wish to get him he could not imagine. He ran over in his mind a list of all those

who might feel enmity toward him, but among them all the Lizard could cast

upon none who might have sufficient against him to warrant such an elaborate

scheme of revenge.

The footsteps passed him and continued on toward the foot of the stairs where

was the main entrance which opened upon the street. At the door the footsteps

halted, and as the Lizard's eyes bored through the darkness in the direction of

the other prowler the latter struck a match upon the panel of the door and lighted

a cigarette, revealing his features momentarily but distinctly to the watcher in the

shadow of the stairway. Then he opened the door and passed out into the night.

The Lizard, listening intently for a few moments to assure himself that there was

no one else above, and that the man who had just departed was not returning, at

last continued his way to the foot of the stairs, which he ascended to the second

floor. Passing through the outer office, he paused a moment before the door to

Compton's private office, and then silently turning the knob he gently pushed the

door open and stepped into the room.

Beyond the threshold he halted and pressed the button of his flash-lamp. For just

an instant its faint rays illumined the interior of the room, and then darkness

blotted out the scene. But whatever it was that the little flash-lamp had revealed

was evidently in the nature of a surprise, and perhaps something of a shock, to

the Lizard, for he drew back with a muttered oath, backed quietly out of the

room, closed the door after him, and, moving much more swiftly than he had

entered, retraced his steps to the fifth window on the alley, and was gone from

the scene with whatever job he had contemplated unexecuted.

170

The Efficiency Expert